It is every young footballer's dream to play on the global stage, but first they would require the necessary platform to parade their skills with hopes of being recognized by astute overseas-based coaches.
Such is the case for some of the Caribbean's top young players, who are provided an opportunity to take their talents beyond the shores and, by extension, bring their dreams of making it big on the global stage within reach, courtesy of the Caribbean Premier Showcase.
The Caribbean Premier Showcase, conceptualized by Jamaican-born Oniqueky Samuels in 2014, was meant to be a mere recruitment drive for universities and colleges in the United States, but has since blossomed into a developmental workshop.
The event is designed to test the mettle and skills of players from across the region under the watchful eyes of over 30 coaches from universities, colleges, clubs and academies across the world.
Having made stops in Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada over the years, Samuels, the Men’s Head coach and International Advisor at the University of Maine, Fort Kent, has opted to bring the showcase back to Jamaica, with action scheduled for Friday and Saturday starting at 9:00am.
St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) Sports Complex in Santa Cruz will be the first stop, before Samuels and team cap things off at the UWI-JFF Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence in Kingston.
The showcase involves a number of games in the morning from which coaches will select the various players they want to see advance. In the afternoon, an All-scholastic team, selected by ISSA, will square off against an All-star team selected by the coaches. Following those engagements, the All-manning and All-daCosta Cup teams will lock horns against the All-star teams selected by the coaches.
After leaving Jamaica the Showcase will head to Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Samuels pointed out that his inspiration to launch such an initiative stemmed from his own journey, as he was awarded a scholarship to the University of Maine, Fort Kent in 2007, and has made full use of the opportunity.
The soft-spoken Samuels completed two degrees at Maine, Fort Kent, and later transitioned to Union College where he started his coaching career. After spending two seasons at Union as a graduate assistant, he was hired by Maine, Fort Kent as an academic advisor and assistant coach, before taking the reins as of his current position in 2018.
“I'm excited about how everything is manifesting. It started as just an itch to give back to young Jamaicans as soon as I got an opportunity coaching. So, I wanted to recruit you know personnel from similar background as mine and it has transitioned into this that you're seeing now,” Samuels, who is also the founder of the Samuels Soccer Foundation, shared.
“It is so satisfying, a lot of persons are hopping on board and making this an official event. That's the main objective, to make this an official annual event that can give young Caribbean players an opportunity to excel, whether you know excel in football or excel in academics because at the end of the day it started by just you know offering scholarships to universities and colleges,” he added.
According to Samuels, another key component to the Showcase is the fact that it also prepares the successful recruits mentally for their transition into a new environment.
“It helps with the want-to-do-well mindset because you want to make better for your family. So, at the end of the day, you have me that have gone through with you have Rajay [Maragh] that has gone through it, many of the personnel who are assisting and volunteering for this showcase, have gone through it. We also offer that connection and relationship with the coaches as well, so if there are issues or any kind of conversation that needs to be had, you know we're going to have those conversations. So, we kind of maintain somewhat of a relationship as a kid gets an opportunity. They're not just thrown out into wherever they land and just expected to do well,” he explained.
That said, Rajay Maragh, the Showcase’s chief operating officer, argued that it would be remiss if they didn’t stress the need to balance academics and the athletics to allow for greater success. This, he said is often an issue as some student-athletes forget that they are students first.
“That is one of the challenges we had last year too. So, we had a player who did well at the showcase, the coach is interested. We go into the system, and we pull up his profile, but the grades are not matching. These days, Colleges are not necessarily giving full scholarship like that. They'll give you an academic scholarship, and an athletic scholarship and together that would make it a full scholarship. So, you may have a coach that offers a player 60% in sports scholarship, which means the other 40 needs to come from your academic progress,” Maragh revealed.
On that note, President and founder of Value FC Emelio Williams gave insight into what the coaches will be looking for.
"Whether you play top tier college football or professional football, one of the first things is just character. You know your academics well. I'm a supporter of schools because we run two professional teams in Europe and you're a brand. The club is a brand, the team is a brand, each player is a brand. You might score 30 goals for the season, but if your actions bring the club in disrepute, it's all for nought. So, character and all the things that come with just the discipline, the commitment, the drive, being a good teammate, hard work. Those things are massively important to any college coach and to any professional organization. I would say character and then obviously your football and talents or your academic, your athletic talents are massively important," he said.
The Scottish Football Association has hit back at Rangers as the row over a non-penalty incident at Celtic Park continues.
Celtic defender Alistair Johnston appeared to handle the ball inside the area in the first half of the cinch Premiership clash at Parkhead on December 30 while under pressure from Gers forward Abdallah Sima.
Referee Nick Walsh pointed for a goal kick and the decision was confirmed by VAR official Willie Collum following a check.
It later emerged through Sky Sports – broadcasting the match live – that there had been an offside in the build-up and Rangers claimed that was never mentioned during the VAR analysis.
The Ibrox club called on the SFA to release the audio of the incident and following a meeting with the governing body on Wednesday, Rangers said there was “an overriding consensus the VAR decision of no handball was incorrect”.
The Govan club also added they were “deeply concerned” by the speed of the decision and there were reports that the club had requested that Collum not be involved in Rangers games going forward.
However, in a lengthy statement the SFA said: “The Scottish FA is disappointed by contents of the most recent statement issued by Rangers.
“Chief executive James Bisgrove and director of football operations Creag Robertson attended a private briefing with the head of referee operations, Crawford Allan, to review the incident in question, including the use of matchday audio.
“We understood from the chief executive that the meeting had been constructive and informative, and conducted amicably. This does not appear to be reflected in the club’s statement.
“During the meeting, it was pointed out that the incident in question was a subjective handball and that the VAR did not deem it a sufficiently clear and obvious error to refer to on-field review.
“Furthermore, the offside would not have been mentioned at the time as it was not part of the VAR’s decision-making on the handball.
“It was highlighted within Clydesdale House that had the VAR considered the incident to be a handball offence and asked the referee to carry out an on-field review, the attacking phase of play would have been checked and an offside would have been identified.
“This supplementary information was relayed to broadcasters in-game, and we are reviewing the process of information dissemination to avoid any perceived ambiguity in future.
“There was an overall consensus that the incident could not have led to a penalty kick being awarded in any event, and that there was no impact on the final outcome of the match.”
The statement continued: “Since the summer, we have ensured that key match incidents [KMI] are reviewed and shared with all clubs after every full round of Premiership fixtures, including use of audio.
“We will continue to do this, along with KMI being shared with the independent review panel for their consideration and opinion.
“Finally, we note posts from a recent official media partner of the club’s detailing requests from the private meeting that were immediately rejected.
“We would ask that club representatives show greater responsibility in such matters, especially in the context of recent incidents in European football that have compromised the safety of match officials and led to widespread condemnation.”
The latter comments comes after former MKE Ankaragucu president Faruk Koca was recently given a permanent suspension for punching referee Halil Umut Meler after his side’s draw with Caykur Rizespor in the Turkish Super Lig.
Erik ten Hag described his first meeting with Sir Jim Ratcliffe as “very positive” but admitted he still has much to learn about the billionaire’s plans for Manchester United.
Ratcliffe’s INEOS group will assume control of footballing operations once his purchase of a 25 per cent stake in the club has been ratified in the coming weeks, and he has been in Manchester this week for a series of meetings with club staff.
The meetings have been described as an opportunity for Ratcliffe, as well as senior INEOS officials Sir Dave Brailsford and Jean-Claude Blanc, to get to know the club before they start work in earnest.
“It was very positive, I have to say,” Ten Hag said. “We had a long meeting, many hours we sit together and on many issues we are on the same page so it was very positive.
“I think from both sides it was a very constructive meeting and we look forward to working with them.”
But asked if he had been able to gain a clear idea of what might change under Ratcliffe, Ten Hag said: “We have to let it settle down. They’re just coming in, introducing themselves.
“They have good ideas. We have to see what we can integrate. In togetherness we will work on that but after one day you can’t tell that.
“They have given me a few (ideas), we have had our debates about strategies and I think we will come together.”
Ten Hag would not be drawn on reports that winger Jadon Sancho is close to returning to Borussia Dortmund on a loan until the end of the season.
He has not featured since August after a public falling out with Ten Hag and his refusal to apologise for a social media post in which the 23-year-old said he had been made a “scapegoat”.
A January exit has long been expected and Dortmund, the club Sancho left to join United in a £73million deal in 2021, have emerged as the leading contenders for his signature.
“I can’t say anything about that,” Ten Hag said. “We have to wait and see how things are going and when we have news, of course, we will tell you.”
Ten Hag did confirm that United have triggered contract extensions for Victor Lindleof, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Hannibal Mejbri, but they have entered discussions with Raphael Varane and Anthony Martial rather than take up options in their deals, which expire in the summer.
Martial is widely expected to leave the club in the summer, while it has been reported that United are hoping to persuade Varane to accept reduced terms if he is to sign a new deal.
“We are talking with Rapha Varane, with Anthony Martial, and we triggered the options on Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof and Hannibal,” Ten Hag said.
Asked why contract options had not been triggered for Varane and Martial, Ten Hag said: “I think that is an internal discussion between the club and the players.”
Meanwhile, Ten Hag said he still does not know yet if goalkeeper Andre Onana will be available for next weekend’s Premier League match against Tottenham, saying only that he can feature in Monday’s FA Cup tie away to Wigan.
It is understood that the Cameroonian football association has agreed to allow the 27-year-old to join up late for their African Cup of Nations campaign, which starts on January 15, but Ten Hag stopped short of confirming he will play at Old Trafford next weekend.
“We’re talking with the Cameroon federation,” Ten Hag said. “It was an issue during the talks with Andre when he came in here. It’s constructive. We will see. I don’t know yet (for Spurs) but he will be here for the game against Wigan.”
Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou has paid tribute to 16-year-old Spurs fan Harry Pitman, who was killed in north London on New Year’s Eve.
Pitman died after what police described as “an altercation” as crowds gathered in Primrose Hill in Camden to watch a firework display on December 31.
A 15-year-old boy has since been arrested on suspicion of murder and Tottenham will remember Pitman during Friday’s FA Cup third-round tie at home to Burnley.
The PA news agency understands an image of Pitman will be shown on the screens inside the stadium in the 16th minute, after the club received the family’s blessing to do so, and fans are encouraged to sing, ‘he’s one of our own’ during that minute.
Postecoglou, a father of three boys, said: “You don’t even want to be thinking about the circumstances of the family and again where we are as a society… the fact that these things still happen like this and young lives are lost for absolutely no reason.
“I couldn’t even contemplate the grief and the pain of what the family are going through.
“I’ve always felt that football club are more than just the embodiment of what we do. In sport they are an extended community and an extended family for people.
“If it even gives them the smallest crumb of comfort then it’s the least we can do and our fans can do. It’s just tragic and inconceivable that people and families still have to suffer this grief.”
Ange Postecoglou has acknowledged Tottenham captain Son Heung-min will be a “big loss” over the coming weeks but has called on other members of the squad to step up in his absence.
Spurs host Burnley in the FA Cup third round on Friday night and it is the first of potentially six matches where Son could be missing while away with South Korea at the Asian Cup.
Son has scored 12 times this season, but Postecoglou’s team will also miss his influence off the pitch with vice-captains Cristian Romero and James Maddison both still injured.
“Sonny, if you name a team of the year at the moment, he’s in it,” Postecoglou insisted.
“He’s been a hell of a player for us. It’s a big loss for us, another one and we’re going to have to really raise everyone’s levels to cover the absence of another significant contributor for us this season.
“Whoever wears the armband tomorrow is not really that significant to me.
“What’s more important is that Sonny has been an outstanding leader in deeds, actions and words and we’re going to need players to step up tomorrow irrespective of who’s wearing the armband.
“We need to try and fill that hole that he’s left because I think he’s been outstanding for us.
“I’m not putting too much thought into whoever it is that will be, but we’ll need a number of people to stand up in that area just in terms of experience on the day.”
Tottenham will bank on £60million forward Richarlison being able to continue his fine form and cover for Son over the next month.
Richarlison is one of the Premier League’s most in-form player with five goals in as many matches and looks revitalised after minor groin surgery in November.
Postecoglou added: “He’s just free of injury, he feels good physically and he’s just able to perform at the levels that he wants to.
“He couldn’t do that at the start of the season. Even though he was playing for us, he was feeling restricted in his movements.
“It’s no magic cure, he got some treatment for what he needed to get treatment for and he feels good now.
“His body feels good and then he’s scoring goals, which makes him feel a little bit more confident in himself.
“Aside from that, he’s working really hard for the team which has been really important for us, especially the last two, three weeks. He’s going well and hopefully there’s more to come.”
While Spurs lose Son as well as Pape Sarr and Yves Bissouma to international commitments this month, Micky van de Ven has returned to full training and could be involved against Burnley.
James Maddison is still “weeks” away though with an ankle injury and Alejo Veliz has a “significant” knee injury, which will sideline him for a couple of months, according to Postecoglou.
He said: “Micky van de Ven has trained with us this week, he’s got through three sessions. We’re not sure about tomorrow whether he’ll be involved or not.”
Reggae Boy Deshane Beckford is hoping to hit the ground running on his return to Hartford Athletic when the United Soccer League (USL) championship season gets underway in March.
The midfielder, who enjoyed a productive loan spell at Hartford Athletic two years ago, rejoins the team at a time when they require some impetus, as they endured a dismal campaign last season, and finished at the foot of the Eastern Conference with a mere four wins in 34 outings.
Beckford in confirming his move from Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, where he scored two goals and had four assists in 32 appearances last season, expressed delight at being reunited with coach Brendan Burke.
“I am happy to reunite with coach [Brendan] Burke and be part of the project in Hartford,” Beckford said.
“This is one of the most passionate fan bases in the entire league and I’m glad to have them cheering me on and supporting me this season. I am also looking forward to integrating myself into Hartford’s large Jamaican community, something that I’m sure will make me feel right at home in my new city,” he added.
The 25-year-old, whose lone international cap came two years ago, joins compatriot Andre Lewis and Trinidad and Tobago’s Tristan Hodge at Hartford Athletic.
Meanwhile, Burke, a big admirer of Beckford has high expectations from a player he believes will add great attacking value to the squad. Beckford has made 97 Championship appearances, with 11 goals and 12 assists to his record.
“We are very excited to bring Deshane to Hartford. He is an excellent winger with great pace on the ball and is especially dangerous on the counterattack,” Burke, who is also the club general manager, shared. “He does a great job to put pressure on the opposition with his effort on defense as well. Our fans are really going to enjoy cheering on Deshane this season,” he noted.
With the transfer window now open, Peterborough United’s Director of Football Barry Fry, has warned prospective buyers that the club will not release Reggae Boy striker Jonson Clarke-Harris cheaply.
Clarke-Harris has been in a good vein of form, which has attracted significant interest and is expected to leave the East England club during the transfer window.
The 29-year-old striker, who claimed the Golden Boot after scoring 26 goals in the previous season, has already netted 10 goals in 24 appearances in all competitions this season.
That, coupled with Clarke-Harris’s positive influence on the club makes him a valuable asset and, as such, Fry is adamant that interested parties will have to dig deep to secure his services.
“He won’t be leaving for peanuts. His scoring record is outstanding, and he’s a great bloke to have around the club, even when he isn’t playing. He’s been unbelievable with the younger players,” Fry stated.
Despite being placed on the transfer list at the end of the last season when Peterborough failed to secure promotion to the Championship, Clarke-Harris’s move to Bristol Rovers for £800,000, fell through late on deadline day in September. However, the striker quickly regained his scoring form for Peterborough, including a notable brace against Mansfield.
While anticipating a potential transfer in January, Clarke-Harris had limited starts in recent months, but made a triumphant return to the starting lineup, with a two-goal performance against Barnsley.
Fry emphasized that Clarke-Harris’s value goes beyond his ability to score goals, as he pointed to the striker’s contributions in crucial moments and his support for younger players.
Though Bristol Rovers have reportedly reduced their interest following the departure of manager Joey Barton, reports suggest that Fleetwood Town could pursue Clarke-Harris’s signature during this transfer window.
Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo admitted it was difficult to leave Merseyside for the Asian Cup just when he had started to really find his form.
The Japan captain, a £16million signing from Stuttgart, started the last six matches as he deputised for the injured Alexis Mac Allister and that regular rhythm undoubtedly helped the 30-year-old find his feet after a tough introduction to English football.
But the New Year’s Day win over Newcastle – that extended Liverpool’s lead at the top of the Premier League table to three points – was Endo’s last game for a month as he flies out to Qatar to begin preparations for the tournament which begins next Friday.
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Unlike Mohamed Salah, who is now away with Egypt at the African Nations Cup, when he returns, Endo will have lost his place to Mac Allister, who has been first choice in the holding role all season, and will have lost the momentum he built up.
“Of course I want to stay here but as a national team player it is important for me as I am captain. I am now focused on the national team and just doing my best,” said Endo.
“I want to have good results at the Asia Cup, but that’ll mean I have to stay longer in Qatar.
“But Macca has come back now, so I can just stay focused on the national team. I’m sure we (Liverpool) will play well, 100 per cent.
“I want to come back with the Asia Cup title. I’m confident Liverpool can do well in the absence of me and Mo.”
Endo’s late arrival in mid-August meant his integration into the side took longer and, as a result, he was mainly restricted to starts in the Europa League and Carabao Cup.
However, Mac Allister’s injury and a heavy December workload meant manager Jurgen Klopp had little option but to play him every week and that made a significant difference.
“It has been the toughest Christmas and New Year in my life but to play football is amazing so I’ve enjoyed it also,” Endo added.
“It’s a very tough schedule but I needed to keep playing. Playing the games is the most important way for me to improve.
“We have so many injured players. I was thinking, I am a very important player on the pitch so I needed to show why I came here.
“I think the team played well and I also played better than before and we are now top of the table so I feel I did my job. I feel like I’ve got to grips more with playing in England.
“Confidence is a big thing also. The manager has shown a lot of faith in me. The other players know me better now as well, that’s also important for me to play better.”
Liverpool have recalled 20-year-old James Balagizi from his loan spell at Wigan, where he made just seven appearances – only three of which were in League One.
What the papers say
Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise is interesting Manchester United, according to the Evening Standard. The 22-year-old could become one of the first signings since Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s involvement at Old Trafford.
Germany international Timo Werner has also emerged as a transfer target for United, the Daily Mirror reports. According to the paper, RB Leipzig would allow the 27-year-old former Chelsea striker to leave on a loan deal.
One player not likely to be leaving Old Trafford is full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka. The Daily Mail reports United have triggered a 12-month extension on the 26-year-old’s contract ahead of talks on a new deal.
Chelsea defender Ian Maatsen is a top target for Borussia Dortmund, according to the Daily Telegraph. The Bundesliga giants are keen to take the Dutch left-back, 21, on loan or a permanent deal.
Social media round-upPlayers to watch
Andre Gomes: Everton are keen to trim the 30-year-old Portugal midfielder’s wages, reports Football Transfers.
Said Benrahma: Wolves and Fulham have joined French Ligue 1 side Lyon in the chase for West Ham’s Algeria winger Said Benrahma, 28, according to French outlet Footmercato.
Despite struggling to find some semblance of consistency, Waterhouse FC continues to get points on the board, as they defeated Harbour View 2-1 in a lukewarm Wray and Nephew Jamaica Premier League (WNJPL) encounter at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex on Wednesday.
Andre Fletcher (43rd) and Javane Bryan (58th) were on target for Waterhouse, while Nigerian-born Chidalu Chukwuemeka, pulled one back for Harbour View in the 49th.
The win provisionally pushed Waterhouse into sixth position on 19 points, one ahead of Cavalier, who will be in action on Thursday, while Harbour View’s dismal start to the season continues and, as a result, they remain 11th on nine points.
Waterhouse’s assistant coach Damion Gordon welcomed the result as a step in the right direction to achieving their objective of making the playoff.
“We talk about consistency and that’s what every team is searching for, so once we find some consistency, we should be moving forward. But overall, our objective is simple, we want to finish in the top six and we are working towards it,” Gordon said in a post-game interview.
“It is just a work in progress for this team; it is about building a unit and the transfer window is now open, so hopefully we can get some numbers to strengthen the team. We have influential and experience players at the back, being solid at the back and efficient in front of goal is something that we want to achieve, and like I said, we are working towards it,” he added.
Waterhouse was more threatening in open play for most of the first half, and they eventually broke the deadlock when Fletcher pounced on a loose ball and fired home from close range to make it 1-0 at the break.
Harbour View showed more purpose in attack on the resumption and pulled level four minutes in when Chukwuemeka picked up a pass from Andre Fagan and calmly converted from just inside the 18-yard box, as he registered his first goal in Jamaica’s top-flight.
However, Harbour View’s celebrations were short-lived, as they succumbed to a blistering counterattack. Denardo Thomas produced a burst of speed from the middle of the park, and later played a pass across the box for Bryan to fire home his ninth goal of the season from dead centre of the 18-yard box.
There was very little to write home about from there, as the contest lost its tempo, with Harbour View in particular, seemingly accepting their fate.
This has left their assistant coach Sean Fraser infuriated.
“Our defensive shortfall is our Achilles heels, we have tried many things and we have been working hard in training, but it was just a total lapse in concentration that gifted the first goal, and the second goal Waterhouse punished us for it. So, it has just been a see-saw kind of thing. Right now, I am very upset because we have been putting in the work, but we are not getting the results, so it is just back to the drawing board to continue the work,” he noted.
Wednesday’s results
Vere United 1, Dunbeholden 2
Humble Lion 1, Portmore United 4
Lime Hall 1, Mount Pleasant 4
Harbour View 1, Waterhouse 2
Tivoli Gardens 1, Montego Bay United 2
Thursday’s games
4:30pm: Molynes United vs Cavalier @Anthony Spaulding Complex
7:00pm: Arnett Gardens vs Treasure Beach @Anthony Spaulding Complex
Leaders Real Madrid and second-placed Girona remain level on points at the top of LaLiga after both securing victory via late goals on Wednesday.
Real won 1-0 at home against Mallorca, with Antonio Rudiger heading in the only goal in the 78th minute.
Carlo Ancelotti’s men had survived a scare with the visitors hitting the woodwork twice, via Antonio Sanchez and Samu Costa, then did so themselves, with Brahim Diaz heading against a post when looking certain to score, before Rudiger showed greater accuracy.
Girona then kept pace as they emerged triumphant from a thriller, beating Atletico Madrid 4-3 at home thanks to a stoppage-time finish from Ivan Martin.
After Valery’s opener for the home side had been cancelled out by Alvaro Morata, an eventful first half continued with them adding further goals via Savio and Daley Blind.
Morata subsequently made it 3-2 in the 44th minute and completed his hat-trick to draw things level nine minutes into the second half, but Martin then had the final say with a finish into the top corner a minute into time added on at the end.
While Michel’s side join Real on 48 points, Diego Simeone’s Atletico are now 10 points back in third.
There was also a last-gasp winner for Celta Vigo as they came from behind to beat Real Betis 2-1 at home, courtesy of Williot Swedberg’s last-gasp effort.
That moved Celta out of the relegation zone at the expense of Cadiz, who were beaten 2-0 at second-bottom Granada, their first win under Alexander Medina.
Myrto Uzuni and Bryan Zaragoza scored for the hosts either side of Ruben Sobrino being sent off for the visitors as the gap between them reduced to one point.
Ivan Martin’s stoppage-time strike saw Girona beat Atletico Madrid 4-3 in a thriller at the Estadi Municipal de Montilivi to keep pace with Real Madrid at the top of the LaLiga table.
Martin sent the ball into the top corner in the first minute of added time to restore Girona’s advantage after Atletico had fought back from 3-1 down to draw level at 3-3, with Alvaro Morata scoring a hat-trick.
After Morata had cancelled out Valery’s early opener for the hosts, an eventful first half continued with further Girona efforts from Savio and Daley Blind.
Morata reduced the deficit with his second in the 44th minute, before completing his treble in early in the second half – but it was Martin who would have the final say.
Michel’s Girona go back level on points with leaders Real, who beat Mallorca 1-0 earlier on Wednesday, with Diego Simeone’s Atletico 10 points back in third.
Girona took the lead in the second minute through a wonderful finish from Valery, who lashed in from the edge of the box having received the ball from Pablo Torre.
Atletico hit back in the 14th minute as Antoine Griezmann headed a long ball on to Morata and he sent a composed finish past Paulo Gazzaniga.
The visitors were then punished for sloppiness at the back in the 26th minute when Koke was dispossessed just outside his own area by Martin, his shot was parried by Jan Oblak and Savio fired in the loose ball.
And Girona had another after 39 minutes as Aleix Garcia’s cross was helped on by the boot of Artem Dovbyk and Blind was there to tuck the ball home at the far post.
Five minutes later, the goal rush went on with Morata striking again, running on to a pass from Rodrigo De Paul before slotting in.
He then thought he had another goal in first-half stoppage time, only for the effort to be disallowed for offside via VAR.
Atletico subsequently made a strong start to the second half, which included Morata seeing one header saved by Gazzaniga and another go wide.
The former Chelsea man notched his third nine minutes in, lifting a delightful shot beyond Gazzaniga after a great forward burst by De Paul, to bring things all square once more and move to 12 LaLiga goals for the season.
Girona went close to regaining the lead in the 62nd minute as Dovbyk cracked a shot goalwards, with Oblak making a great save to divert the ball wide.
It looked as if the points would be shared, but as stoppage time arrived Martin ensured Girona took all three as he lifted the ball beyond Oblak to seal a memorable victory.
Kylian Mbappe became Paris St Germain’s leading scorer at the Parc des Princes as the Ligue 1 champions saw off Toulouse with a 2-0 victory to take the Champions Trophy.
PSG headed into Wednesday’s showpiece as the firm favourites to claim more silverware and they were ahead after just three minutes through Lee Kang-in.
Mbappe doubled his side’s advantage shortly before the interval with his 111th home strike for PSG as Luis Enrique landed his first trophy for the French side.
Ousmane Dembele returned for PSG following their 3-1 win against Metz a fortnight ago, while Toulouse made two changes with Vincent Sierro and Moussa Diarra back in the starting line-up.
Toulouse, who have found the going tough under new manager Carles Martinez Novell on the domestic front – with just two league wins this season – were making their first appearance at this stage of the competition since 1957 after thrashing Nantes to win the Coupe de France.
But they were a goal down with just two minutes and 35 seconds on the clock.
Vitinha’s superb crossfield ball was volleyed back across the face of goal by Dembele with an unmarked Lee making no mistake from close range.
PSG were on the front foot and in control, but Toulouse almost netted an equaliser when Gabriel Suazo struck the sidenetting with PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma beaten.
With 10 minutes of the opening period remaining, Lee nearly had his second of the night when he unleashed an overhead kick, only to be gobbled up by Guillaume Restes, before Toulouse suddenly threatened again as Thijs Dallinga’s snapshot was tipped on to the post by Donnarumma.
But the home side did double their advantage before the interval following a moment of magic from Mbappe.
The France international collected the ball 25 yards from goal before dribbling away from a handful of Toulouse defenders and firing the ball into the far corner to surpass Edinson Cavani as PSG’s sharpest shooter at the Parc des Princes.
Mbappe’s masterclass left Toulouse with a mountain to climb in the second half and, despite an impressive start after the interval, PSG nearly had a third when Achraf Hakimi’s free-kick struck the woodwork.
Brazilian defender Lucas Beraldo was handed his debut in the second half and, while Toulouse refused to give up, they never looked like threatening PSG as Enrique’s men cruised to a record-extending 12th triumph – and their 10th in the past 11 years.
Philippe Clement is “still curious” about the potential of Rangers after they went into the winter break with a bounce-back 3-1 win over Kilmarnock and still on the heels of Celtic.
The Belgian had lost his first game as Gers boss since taking over in October in the narrow 2-1 Old Firm defeat at Parkhead on Saturday but late first-half goals from wide-men Ross McCausland and Abdallah Sima at Ibrox on Tuesday had the Light Blues in control at the break.
Danny Armstrong reduced the deficit in the 58th minute with a penalty awarded after VAR intervention but Todd Cantwell soon restored the two-goal cushion to keep them eight points behind cinch Premiership leaders Celtic with two games in hand.
The Gers players will enjoy a few days off before going to Spain for a training camp next week.
Clement has already brought the Viaplay Cup back to Ibrox and guided the club into the last 16 of the Europa League and was asked about the potential of his squad.
He said: “I am still curious. I am happy that you speak now about the potential of this team.
“Eleven weeks ago, I heard a lot of people saying there was not potential enough in this team to do what Rangers needs to do.
“So it is positive that so many players are growing, and that is what I want to see. I will keep a close eye, together with my staff, on who are the players staying ambitious, who are the players who are pushing. There are a lot of good examples in that way.
“You have a young lad (Ross McCausland) who was just in the academy and now he is playing really regular in the first team because he is performing.
“Kieran Dowell, Dujon Sterling, who are now playing in other positions. They have done that for the team, or else they wouldn’t play.
“So, I think this team is in a really good way. The dressing room also.
“The atmosphere every day within the building, with the training, the ambition in the training.
“After our first defeat, which we knew would come one day, the reaction was how I wanted it. We looked at what we had to do to make good, to analyse what went wrong, what we could do better.
“I’m happy that everybody is saying they see a different team now with more of a winning mentality.
“I see more and more quality and that the team understands better and better how I want to see football, how I want to see them run together, how I want them to create spaces for other players. It becomes more and more fluid.
“If the players keep on working, stay attentive, stay concentrated then after a while it becomes more natural for them.
“So there are really positive things. It’s not about being satisfied. It’s about being ambitious to get better.”
Erling Haaland has handed Manchester City a major injury boost after returning to training.
Haaland, with 19 goals in all competitions this season, has been sidelined with a foot injury since City’s 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa on December 6.
But the Norway international was pictured in training with the squad ahead of their third-round FA Cup clash against Huddersfield on Sunday.
Jeremy Doku, who has missed his side’s last eight matches with a muscular injury, also trained with his team-mates.
Both players had previously been training individually.
The imminent return of Haaland and Doku will send a warning to City’s rivals with Kevin De Bruyne also stepping up his return.
The Belgian star, who has been out of action since suffering a hamstring injury on the opening day of the season, made his comeback to the matchday squad an as unused substitute in City’s comfortable 2-0 win over Sheffield United last weekend.
Pep Guardiola’s City trail Liverpool by five points in the Premier League with a game in hand.
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